My No. 1 priority is keeping rates low and stable. This is done by controlling costs, moving away from coal and seeking new, lower-cost renewable energy projects, smart-grid innovations and economic development projects such as Facebook. OPPD must stay competitive with other utilities by running a lean operation and always putting its customer-owners first.

Nebraska’s public power history has brought great benefits to people across our community, and we need to be prepared for rapidly changing technology of the future. My top priority is helping ensure fair rates and affordable bills for the ratepayer-owners of our electric utility. The best way to keep energy affordable is to invest in new energy market opportunities. These include support for clean energy jobs and infrastructure, efficiency upgrades in homes and businesses and smart grid technology. Investments to prepare for our energy future will help people lower their energy costs and will strengthen public power.

Voter info

» Register in person at an election commission office, the DMV, or in Douglas County, any of Omaha’s 12 library branches.

Registration questions

Visit www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov to check whether you’re registered to vote and find your polling place. If you think you should be able to vote at a polling place but there’s a problem with the registration, request to fill out a provisional ballot. The election commission will collect them and then has a week to verify whether you are eligible to vote.

To see a sample ballot

See a sample ballot from the Nebraska Secretary of State website here.

To find your district

Visit votercheck.necvr.ne.gov and look up your registration info or polling place to find a list of the political districts you live in.

Important dates

Oct. 1: First day for early voting ballots to be mailed.
Oct. 9: First day to vote early in person at election commission office.
Oct. 19: Deadline to register to vote online, by mail, at agencies, at the DMV office, by deputy registrar or by registration form that’s delivered to the election office by someone other than the person registering
Oct. 26: Deadline for in-person voter registration at election commission office, 6 p.m. Deadline for early voting ballots to be requested to be mailed to a specific address, 6 p.m. Deadline for write-in candidates to file notarized affidavit and filing fee with filing officer.
Nov. 5: Deadline for in-person early voting at election commission office, 5 p.m. (Sarpy County office closes at 4:45 p.m.)
Nov. 6: Election Day! Polls open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. 7 p.m.: Deadline for agent to pick up early voting ballot. 8 p.m.: Deadline to return early voting ballot to election commission office or drop box location
Nov. 13: Deadline for verification of provisional ballots

Here are the Douglas County drop box locations, opening in early October: